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Pokégnek yajdanawa THE POKAGONS TELL IT Bbon gises December 2015 Afterschool Program focuses on Thanksgiving, emotional health, Inside This Month sage, adulthood Page 5 By Daniel Stohrer, youth services coordinator and explained the stages of harvesting wild rice by parching, Rebecca Williams, youth cultural coordinator dancing, winnowing and then finally sorting the rice pieces Pokagon ogitchedaw The Pokagon Band afterschool program is based upon one-by-one to remove any remaining chaff or damaged rice. honored on Veterans medicine wheel teachings, meaning during the fall season The kids had the opportunity to participate in each stage of Day. we focus on the western direction. Some of the western the harvesting process. Clearly the most popular stage for the direction teachings we discussed were nutrition, active youth was the dancing process, which removes the hull from lifestyles, healthy relationships, and emotional health. We the rice. learned about nutrition from registered dietitian Marcy We also explained sage, one of the four sacred medicines, Herbert, who taught our afterschool program participants the medicine of the western direction. We showed the Page 6 about what a healthy diet consists of and why it is use of sage—smudging to cleanse and balance yourself, important to make healthy eating choices. We promoted spaces, or spiritual objects. The youth had the opportunity Time to train for active lifestyles by walking in nature, playing team sports, to smudge during every session. the Indian Family and running relay races. Social Services manager Casey In January we will begin to learn about the northern Olympics. Kasper taught the afterschool participants about healthy direction. We will be working on bead work, receiving relationships and the importance of recognizing an teachings from our elders, making good decisions as well unhealthy relationship. Our afterschool program kids were as incorporating fun winter activities. The afterschool rewarded with a horseback riding field trip. program meets on Tuesdays from 3:30 to 6 p.m. If there are The youth also received teachings on how to harvest wild any questions regarding the afterschool program, please rice from cultural coordinator Patty Kublik. Mrs. Kublik contact Daniel Stohrer at (269) 462-4225. Pages 12 –13 Don't miss all the December doings. Healthy Family program makes a difference in kids’ lives Five years ago, the Pokagon “The goal is that kids are happy, well Consistent use of this approach has Band received a grant to start a adjusted, and safe,” said Dunomes. worked really well with this child, program aimed at helping families “We ultimately want to keep families according to Dunomes. establish healthy and stable home together, keep kids in their own home.” “The mother gets to spend more time environments. Two social workers, Through an integrated system of giving encouragement and praise, and Desi Dunomes and Sandy Oram, care for its family-clients, the program less time in negativity with her child,” connect directly with those families can address all facets of family needs: she said. “Kids and parents can spend to assist with goal setting, budgeting, physical and behavioral health, housing, more time enjoying each other.” and other family services. education, and justice system assistance. Another practice that has helped this Dunomes and Oram use proven One of the families that has family: making and using a chore chart. models of intensive, home-based family benefitted from the program has shared “It’s attached to an incentive—an mentoring and case-management to some of their success stories. The allowance—so the kid sees rewards and develop and implement a program mother uses a technique she learned consequences.” leading to family wellness. They meet from the social worker called 1-2-3 This helps the child and parent in with client-families where they are: in Magic with her grade school aged child. saving and goal setting. the home, at work, at school, allowing “1-2-3 Magic has immediate, direct The grant expired a few years ago, them the best opportunity to have a consequences for a child,” said Dunomes. but the Band made this program a complete picture of each situation and “Basically the child gets three chances permanent, tribally funded service so it a thorough assessment of a family’s to get it right, or she or he will have a can continue to make an impact with physical and environmental needs, as well time out and perhaps a conversation.” as the less-apparent interactional needs. the most vulnerable Pokagon citizens. Pokégnek Bodéwadmik • Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Band of Bodéwadmik • Pokagon Pokégnek Box 180 • 58620 Sink Road MI 49047 Dowagiac, 2 Pokégnek Yajdanawa Bbon gises 2015 Domestic Violence Awareness Program receives second grant, offers new services In September, the Domestic Violence Program applied for their second grant to “If you start with the little ones, then they'll grow up with the idea that abuse expand services to more citizens. After Tribal Council approved their application is not okay,” said Casey Kasper, victim services manager. “Slowly but surely, we're on August 31, they applied and received $1,000 more than requested, for a total of going to build up the mentality that this is not cultural or okay.” $76,000. Social Services and PHS, primarily Behavioral Health, will be collaborating to This grant opens the door to new services for more women and men and focuses care for victims, modeling the integrative care effort PHS practices. One area of on prevention, under the name Pokagon Band Domestic Violence Prevention particular effort will be in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with eye Initiative Project. movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)— a fairly new, nontraditional The Domestic Violence Program (DVP) is expanding its impact, first by type of psychotherapy for treating PTSD, according to the grant proposal. providing crisis intervention, counseling, advocacy, behavioral health, and case DVP is also integrating appropriate cultural practices into the care for victims, management to victims of domestic and sexual violence, whereas the program enhancing their social and emotional well being. previously offered these services to only adult, female victims of domestic violence. The Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative, Division of Behavioral Health, DVP will also be providing more education about domestic violence and Office of Clinical and Preventive Services, Indian Health Service, and the historical trauma for adults and youth and establishing community response Department of Health and Human Services funded this grant. procedures. department of social services Project LAUNCH Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Parent Advisory Group Department of Language & Culture Pancake Breakfast January 10, 2016 10:00 am –12:00 pm Community Center 27043 Potawatomi Trail :: Dowagiac, MI 49047 Please join the Language and Culture staff for the kick off to this year’s Sugar Season beginning with a pancake breakfast. This group meets once a month and is composed of parents and caregivers of children 0–8 years of age. Each Department meets with the Parent Group and discusses ways we can help improve the services for our Pokagon Youth. The Parent Group also receives a cultural teaching from a gyankobjegémen member of the Pokagon Community. If you have any questions please contact Patty Jo Kublick (269) stay connected 462- 4303 desk or 269-462-5376 Language and Culture Nicole If you're interested in attending please contact JT Laraway, Young Child Holloway (269) 462-4325. pokagon.com Wellness Coordinator, (269) 462-4450. gyankobjegémen stay connected pokagon.com Pokégnek Yajdanawa Pokégnek Yajdanawa is the monthly voice of Pokégnek The deadline for citizen submissions for the newsletter is always Bodéwadmik, the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi. the fourteenth of each month. Please send items for publication to: Citizens are encouraged to submit original letters, stories, Pokégnek Yajdanawa pictures, poetry and announcements for publication in Box 180 Pokegnek Yajdanawa. Submissions are subject to the established Dowagiac, MI 49047 guidelines. [email protected] 3 December 2015 Pokégnek Yajdanawa Halloween party serves fun and frights By Rebecca Williams doughnuts, a creepy feeling station and a make-and-take your own trick or treat This year’s Halloween party was a huge success with close to 350 attendees. bag. People willing to brave the rain enjoyed a horse drawn hayride and trick or Everyone left with full stomachs and a few scares from the Youth Council’s treating through the Édawat Village. Some of this year’s costume contest winners Haunted House. Some of this year’s activities included a balloon artist, diving for included an Oompa Loompa and a homemade claw machine. Pokagon citizen publishes book Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Congratulations to John N. Low PhD, whose book Department of Education Imprints: The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and the City of Chicago will be published in February. Professor Low is an assistant professor in comparative EDUCATION studies at Ohio State University–Newark where he teaches history and American Indian studies. PORTAL The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians has been a part of Chicago since its founding. In very public expressions of indigeneity, they have refused to hide in plain sight or assimilate. Instead, throughout the city’s history, the Pokagon Potawatomi Indians have The Education Department would like to announce openly and